Toggle clamp



March 3, 1953 E. ZAZDRZYK 2,630,035

TOGGLE CLAMP Filed July 11, 1952 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 rimiii IN VEN TOR. EDWARD ZA ZDBZYK Filed July 11, 1952 E. ZAZ DRZYK TOGGLE CLAMP 22 www 25 35/L'24 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD ZA ZDEZYK PXZ WZW/BW w Kama ATTORNEYJ Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims This invention relates to clamps or wrenches and more particularly to a clamp or wrench having adjustable toggle mechanism for closing its aws.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved clamp or wrench of the snap-on type having relatively movable jaws and adjustable toggle mechanism for closing its jaws on a work piece; which includes spring means resiliently urging the jaws in a separating direction and spring means cushioning the jaw closing force exerted on the jaws by the toggle mechanism; which has a handle which completely covers the toggle mechanism and springs when the jaws are in closed position to protect the hands of a person using the device from injury; which has two adjustments for the toggle mechanism, one of which controls the spacing of and the pressure between the jaws and the other of which controls the looking of the toggle mechanism and can be set to prevent the toggle mechanism from locking when the jaws are closed, so that the device can be used as a cutting or crimping tool with selected jaw pressures; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to use, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: V 3 Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the clamp with the clamp jaws closed;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the clamp jaws open;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the device;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 6--6 of Figure 1.

With continued reference to the drawings, the device comprises anelongated back bar II] of rectangular cross sectional shape having a fixed jaw II projecting perpendicularly therefrom at one end thereof and a lug I2 projecting perpendicularly therefrom at the other end thereof and in the same direction as the fixed jaw II. The lug I2 has near its end remote from the back bar It a tapped, hole I3, the longitudinal center line of which is substantially parallel to the 10ngitudinal center line of the back bar.

A first slide I l is mounted on the back; bar Ill adjacent the fixed jaw II for movement longitudinally of the back bar and includes :a movable jaw I5 positioned in opposition to the fixed jaw I I. This first slide comprises a substantially rectangular body I5 of sheet metal bent to U- shaped form and a flat block I! of substantially rectangular shape disposed between the sides of the body I6 and spaced from the intermediate or bight portion of the body I6 to providea space slidably receiving the back bar II], the sheet metal body I6 being secured to the block IT by suitable means, such as the rivets I8. Both thebody I6 and the block I! are extended at the corner of the slide remote from the back bar 10, and adjacent the fixed jaw II to provide a movable jaw extension which extends outwardly to the distal end of the fixed jaw II.

A secondrslide 20 islslidably mounted on the back bar ID between the slide I4 and the lug l2 and also includes a sheet metal body 2I of rectangular shape bent to U-shaped cross section, and a fiat block 22 disposed in the body 2I and secured thereto by the rivets 23 and 24. The block 22 is spaced from the intermediate or bight portion of the body 2I to provide a space slidably receiving the back bar I0 and the block 22 is provided with a slot 25 disposed intermediate the width thereof and extending from a location adjacent the end of the block nearest the lug I2 to the other end of the block where it is beveled or flared outwardly, as indicated at 26 and 21'. The sides of the body 2| are bowed outwardly to partly cylindrical shape at the opposite sides of the notch 25 in the block 22 to provide in the slide 20 a socket of substantially cylindrical shape closed at its end adjacent the lug I2 and opening to the end of the slide 20 adjacentthe;

An adjusting screw 28 is threaded through the tapped hole I3 in the lug I2 and has a thumbwheel 29 on the end thereof at the outer side of the lug. At its other end the screw is rotatably received in a hole 30 in the block 22 at the closed end of the socket 3| and this end of the screw is enlarged at the closed end of the socket, as indicated at 32, so that the screw cannot pull out of the block 22. An abutment plate 33 is mounted in the slot 25 at the closed end of the latter and bears against the adjacent end of the screw, so that the screw cannot move into the socket or slot and the slide 20 will be positively moved along the back bar I!) in one direction or the other when the screw 28 is rotated in the corresponding direction.

A compression spring 35 isdisposed in the socket 3i and bears at one end against the abutment plate 33. A movable abutment 35 is disposed in the socket near the open end of the latter and bears against the adjacent end 01 the compression spring 35 and a link 3': is pivotally connected at one end to the movable abutment 35 and extends from this movable abutment toward the slide I 4.

A tension.springa-da-extendsi along the inner side of theback :bar lil=and is connected at one end to the slide l4 and at its other end to the slide 2!! and acts to resiliently urge the slide J 1 toward the slide 2!) and the movable jaw l5 away from the fixed jaw H of the device.

A handle 40 is pivotally connected :at oneend to the slide I4 at the corner of this slide remote from the back bar l0 and the fixed jawrit-iand.

comprises a sheet metal body bent to U cross sectional shape and havinglintermediate its length a portion of maximum width. Ihe portion of maximum "width is nearertheend oithe handle cormectedritoi the slide 1 tthantothe other end of the handle :and *the h-andle tapers'at its side remote fromtheback bar 'lll in both directions away" from the portion of maximum width. At its end pivotallyconnected to'the slide Hi the .handle'isiprovided with a pair-of outwardly ex tending "apertured' lugs which'ar'e' disposed one at each side of'the 'slide- M and pivotally secured toth'el'atter byone of the rivets l 8' or by a pivot pin substituted for'one-ofthese rivets. A guideway' comprising two 'pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel 'ribs'," one pair" of" which extends alongthe inner surface "oi" one side; "and the" other pair of which extends along theinner surface of the "other side of the handle, extend transversely ofthe handle at the portion of maximum width and isdisposed substantially perpendicularto the edge or. sideofl'the handle-adjacent the back bar 10;. At the *e'ndiof the guidewayremote. from the ,baclvbar'y I II- the handleis provided with a; tapped hole'Mandan adjusting .screw'45 is threaded through this hole andcarries athumbwheel; 46 oniits' end at the outer side .of thehandle. ,Aslide'blockifl isslidably mountedi-in the guideway" l3 and pivotally connected .totheadiacent end'oftheradjustingscrew 45- for movement, longitudinally of the 'guideway upon rotationofithe adjusting screw and the link 31' is pivot'ally connected at its end remote fromthe spring abutment J36 ,to'. the slide block 41'.

With thisarrangement, and with the adjusting screw, v45 threaded inwardly -fof. the handle to" its maximum, extent, l the. device acts as a toggle clamp. 'Whenlthe'. distallendioi the handle is moved away fromtheendoi the back bar IE3 car'- ;rying thefilug I2 the-slide ,ldlcarryingthe movable jaw is moved away from the fixed jaw and when the distal: end of the .handleis forced toward the lug I2, thermovablerjaw is moved toward the fixed jaw as the togglellinkage including the handle and the (link 3] is straightened. When the pivotalv connectionlbetweenlthelink 31 and abutment 4'! passes-thev line extending through the axes of the pivotal connection between, the handle and-the. slide 14 and-between the, link and the spring. abutment 36 to the side of. this line adjacentthe back bar-4 0, the toggle mechanism, is lockedin=jaw closing position. The spacing between therjaws, when thetoggle mechanism is locked, is controlled by adjustment of the adjusting screw 28 and the pressure exerted between the jaws is also controlled by this adjusting screw, since movement of the ,slidezfl .by the adjusting iscrew willrchangeithe loading on nection between the slide *block Alandgthe link 31 does not cross the line extending through the a axes of the pivotal connections between the handle and the slide 14 and the link 37 and spring abutment 36. Under this latter condition the tool maybe usedas a cutting or crimping tool, and

- in'the condition in which the toggle mechanism .locks,;; itxmayiabe. used as a clamp or wrench or a pair of locking pliers.

The'invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics; thereof. i. The; present embodiment is, therefore; to bBuCODSiQG -EQLiH all respects as; illustrative; .andnot restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated byiithe appended, claims ratherithanby the foregoing description; and allchanges which come within the: meaning, and. range ofequivalency; of the claims are; thereforei,;. intended to v be embraced therein; What is claimed is: 1. An adjustable: clamp .comprisingian elongated back barhaving afixed jaw projecting erpendicularly therefrom at one end thereof, a first slide, surroundingsaid back i bar and movable longitudinally thereof adjacent said 'zfixed jaw, said first slide including a movablewjawf disposed in opposition. to said fixedjaw, a second slide mounted :on; said back bar, adjacent the: other 'end ,of;the:,latter.;and includin a socket; a ,lug projecting. from:said;back :bar-atzsaid other-end of the :latteriir'thegsamei direction :asgsaidnxed j aw; yand having a.;tapped hole; neartthe distal end. thereof, an: adjusting screw .;threaded through; thestapped; hole; injsaid :lug rand connected at :one end toxsaids-secondslide for. adj ustably moving the latter: longitudinally of said back bar, said socket beingclosed at theend thereof adjacent said lug, a compression spring in said-socket, a movable abutment in said'socket at the end-of said compressionspring remote from said lug, a handle, pivotally connected at one end to said first slide and extending from said first slide past said second slide, said handle having aguideway extending transversely thereof and a tapped hole therein at one end of said guideway, a-rsecond adjusting screw threaded through the tapped hole insaid 'handle and extending alongsaid guideway', a slide block' slidable along said guideway and connected tothe adjacent endof said second adjusting screw, and a link pivotally connectedat one end to said movable abutment and at its other end to said slide block.

2; An adjustable clamp comprising an'elongated back bar having a fixed jaw projecting perpendicularly therefrom at one end thereof, a first slide surrounding said back bar and movable longitudinally thereof adjacent said fixed jaw, said first slideincluding a movable jaw disposed in opposition to said fixed jaw, a second slide mounted on said back bar adjacent the other end of the latter and including a socket, a lug projecting from said back bar at saidother endjof the latter in the. same; direction as: said. fixed jaw and having atapped-hole nearuthevdistalflend thereof, an adjusting screw threaded through the tapped hole in said lug and connected at one end to said second slide for adjustably moving the latter longitudinally of said back bar, said socket being closed at the end thereof adjacent said lug, a compression spring in said socket, a movable abutment in said socket at the end of said compression spring remote from said lug, a handle pivotally connected at one end to said first slide and extending from said first slide past said second slide, said handle having a guideway extending transversely thereof and a tapped hole therein at one end of said guideway, a second adjusting screw threaded through the tapped hole in said handle and extending along said guideway, a slide block slidable along said guideway and connected to the adjacent end of said second adjusting screw, and a link pivotally connected at one end to said movable abutment and at its other end to said slide block, said handle being of U-shaped cross section and enclosing said guideway and covering said link, said spring and said second slide when positioned along said back bar.

3. In an adjustable clamp having a back bar with a fixed jaw projecting therefrom, a movable jaw slidably mounted on said back bar for movement toward and away from said fixed jaw,

and an abutment spaced from the side of said movable jaw remote from said fixed jaw and movable to selected positions of adjustment along said back bar, toggle means for moving said movable jaw toward and away from said fixed jaw comprising a handle pivotally connected at one end to said movable jaw, a block mounted on said handle and movable to selected positions of adjustment transversely of said handle, and a link pivotally connected at one end to said abutment and at its other end to said block.

EDWARD ZAZDRZYK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name, Date 372,080 Mitchell Oct. 25, 1887 952,079 McIntire Mar. 15, 1910 1,735,011 Plante Nov. 12, 1929 2,379,107 Scheck June 26, 1945 2,454,744 Peterson et al. Nov. 23, 1948 2,566,072 Snell Aug. 28, 1951 2,589,511 Redmon Mar. 18, 1952 2,592,803 Heim Apr. 15, 1952 

